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Pre-Dental 101

General Timeline

FRESHMAN YEAR

  • Focus on building efficient study habits

  • Work toward maintaining a strong GPA

  • Start shadowing a general dentist

  • Explore your interests and get involved in clubs (Pre-Dental Association!) or activities with potential leadership votes down the line

  • Apply for pre-dental summer internships (ex: SHPEP)

 

SOPHOMORE YEAR

  • Keep track of volunteer and shadowing hours

  • Continue aiming for a high GPA

  • Get involved in extracurriculars

  • Attend dental school tours and/or events held by the schools to explore options (ex: Impressions Days, Pre-Dental Days, etc)

  • Apply for pre-dental summer internships (ex: SHPEP)

  • Complete pre-requisite courses for the DAT (Biology I & II, General Chemistry I & II, and Organic Chemistry I & II)​

  • Take the DAT over the summer if ready

  • Consider research opportunities if interested

 

JUNIOR YEAR

  • Begin working with HPAC for application guidance

  • Begin asking and gathering recommendation letters from mentors or professors

  • Research and tour different dental schools

  • Submit your dental school applications

  • Stay active in your extracurriculars like UTD PDA

  • Retake the DAT if needed

  • Start/continue building leadership experience

 

SENIOR YEAR

  • Prepare for and attend dental school interviews

  • Complete any remaining course requirements

  • Look out for acceptance letters (for 2024, the first date is Friday, December 13th)

  • Stay engaged in extracurricular activities

  • Research and apply for financial aid

  • Get ready for graduation!

 

Shadowing

  • Aim for at least 100 hours shadowing 2-3 general dentists across your pre-dental journey to get varied insights

  • Shadow in different clinics to understand diverse practices and patient care styles

  • Try shadowing specialists, like orthodontists and pediatrics, to explore various fields.

  • Ask questions about treatment planning, patient interactions, and clinic operations

  • Take notes on techniques and procedures to deepen your understanding

  • We recommend starting no later than the summer after your first year to build experience over time

Volunteering

  • Aim for a minimum of 100 volunteer hours to show commitment to community service 

  • Choose activities that reflect your interests, even if they're unrelated to dentistry

  • Look for roles that invovle direct interaction, like tutoring or assisting, to build people skills

  • Dental-related volunteer work (like TMOM and Allan Saxe events) can offer relevant experience, but it is not required.

  • Keep a log of your hours and roles to make tracking for applications easier.

  • Common volunteer opportunties:

    • TMOM (Texas Mission of Mercy)​

    • Food pantries or soup kitchens

    • Dental clinics (ex: Allan Saxe)

    • Hospice care or elder care facilities

    • Animal Shelter

    • Homeless or women's shelters

Pre-Dental 101 Slides

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